Seven Jewish Children. A Play for Gaza.

First edition. 8vo. [Pp. 8]. Stapled cream wraps, printed in black.

Rare. No copies listed online, at time of cataloguing.

A brief play voiced by adult speakers "about the difficulties of explaining violence to children" (in the author's own words), which attracted virulent anti-Semitic accusations at its premiere. Originally performed at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 6 February 2009, with an all-Jewish cast in a production directed by Dominic Cooke who is Jewish himself. The commissioning drama editor for Radio 4 and the channel's controller, while considering the play a "brilliant piece," both agreed it could not be broadcast because of the BBC's policy of editorial impartiality.

In response, Churchill has made the playscript available as a downloadable PDF on the Royal Court Theatre's website. A one-woman video performance of the play by Jennie Stoller, is also available on The Guardian's website. "[A]ny play about the crisis in the Middle East that doesn't arouse anger and distress has missed the point." –Tony Kushner and Alisa Solomon in The Nation